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Before the many watching eyes, Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute in return and took the seat meant for him. Pretty maidservants walked over immediately to pour wine and lay out fruits for him.
Song and dance performances proceeded in the hall. Tang Feng looked at Xiao Chen and said, “Little Brother Xiao Chen, there are very few among the younger generation that I really respect. For daring to come to this banquet alone, let me offer you three toasts.”
After finishing his words, Tang Feng downed three cups of wine in rapid succession, appearing rather heroic.
Xiao Chen smiled gently and returned some polite words as well as reciprocating the toast.
As he put down the wine cup, he felt an extremely sharp gaze. He turned his head and looked. It was Gong Taihua, the arrogant Fourth Heaven Martial Emperor, who was standing behind Tang Xun.
When Gong Taihua watched Xiao Chen arrive, his lips had curled up, and he continued looking at Xiao Chen provocatively.
Xiao Chen did not feel like paying attention to this person. He picked up his wine cup and directly ignored him.
“Little Friend Xiao Chen, I already know why you are here. However, let me speak honestly, as well. You want us, the Five Poison Sect, to suddenly support the Dragon’s Gate and oppose the Deity Dao Union. Doing this is really inappropriate. I’m sorry.”
Tang Feng did not give Xiao Chen a chance to speak first, directly rejecting him somewhat rudely.
The Greater Heavenly Martial Emperors of the Heavenly Province Academy and the Yinyang Paradise exchanged glances, appearing extremely surprised. Unexpectedly, Tang Feng rejected so decisively.
Xiao Chen did not say anything. He picked up his wine cup and silently took a sip.
“However, you do not have to worry. The Five Poison Sect will not stand on the Deity Dao Union’s side to oppose the Dragon’s Gate and the Supreme Sky Sect, either,” Tang Feng added, clarifying his neutral position.
Xiao Chen put down his wine cup and nodded. “I know. The moment I saw the poison cloud, I already knew the Five Poison Sect’s decision. After at least ten thousand years of accumulation, this poison cloud probably already gained spirituality. It is sufficient for the Five Poison Sect to not get involved, watching from the sidelines and even taking advantage of the chaos to rise.”
Tang Feng’s expression changed. Clearly, he had not expected Xiao Chen to figure out the Five Poison Sect’s trump card with one glance.
“The poison cloud has a spirit?”
“Sect Master Tang, your honored sect really hid itself very deeply!”
The two Greater Heavenly Martial Emperors of the Yinyang Paradise and the Heavenly Province Academy showed some shock on their faces, appearing extremely surprised.
Tang Feng looked straight at Xiao Chen and asked, “How did you know?”
This was a great secret of the Heavenly Province Academy. Few knew about it. The poison cloud in the air had indeed gained spirituality and life. When the poison cloud was awakened, it could explode forth with the extremely horrifying strength of a Prime.
Xiao Chen said indifferently, “In the past two years when I was in the lower realm, I comprehended a Taiji Dao. Now, I am extremely sensitive to life. Originally, I just suspected it. Seeing Sect Master Tang’s expression confirmed it.”
Tang Feng’s face sank. This fellow actually dug a trap for him. However, he quickly recovered and guffawed, “Great eyes, great eyes!”
“Sect Master, I feel that this song and dance performance is too bland. Since the Azure Dragon King is here, how about I have an exchange with the Azure Dragon King, rousing everyone’s excitement? I have heard that the Azure Dragon King can fight one against ten and have long wanted to test it out for myself.”
Just at this moment, Gong Taihua, who was behind Tang Xun, suddenly stepped forward and spoke in an extremely provocative manner. His eyes blazed with the intent to battle.
The others were somewhat astonished. Gong Taihua was a Fourth Heaven Martial Emperor, someone who already crossed the hurdle of Minor Heavenly Martial Emperor. There was a qualitative difference between him and a Third Heaven Martial Emperor. It was too shameless of him to challenge Xiao Chen like that.
Xiao Chen frowned slightly. What’s going on with this person? From the moment he laid eyes on me, he made his snub so obvious. At the banquet, he even directly challenges me in front of everyone. This person is somewhat detestable.
Tang Feng looked at Xiao Chen and said, “Little Friend, what do you think?”
Xiao Chen felt repulsed and did not want to fight with this person. He rejected coldly, “When I fought one against ten, that was relying on a type of technique. I do not dare to fight with a Fourth Heaven Martial Emperor like this senior.”
“Haha!” Gong Taihua’s lips curled up as he mocked, “It looks like a certain person is only so-so. Those were merely rumors. With just this, you want to come and convince the Five Poison Sect? You probably cannot even clear your own Great Tribulation of wind and fire.”
Gong Taihua was arrogant and obstinate, wanting to show off his abilities. He looked at Xiao Chen and said egotistically, “If you fight me, I can hold back half of my strength. If I surpass more than half, then it will be considered my loss!”
These words made even Tang Feng, who was on the host’s seat, frown. This behavior was somewhat excessive. He waved his hand and said, “Elder Gong, since the Azure Dragon King is not willing, you can withdraw first.”
Who would have imagined that Gong Taihua would not withdraw? He said, “Sect Master, you probably do not know. Three days ago, this Azure Dragon King ruthlessly humiliated the Holy Son on the streets. At that time, he was extremely arrogant. Unexpectedly, he is now behaving like a turtle hiding in his shell.”
“Gong Taihua, everyone here knows that you have selfish intentions. You want to use the Azure Dragon King to increase your reputation. If you are truly capable, then suppress your strength to the same cultivation level as the Azure Dragon King. If you are not willing, then stop spouting such nonsensical excuses.”
The Yinyang Paradise’s Holy Daughter could no longer bear to keep watching. As she spoke, she showed a disgusted frown.
Gong Taihua stepped forward and said overbearingly in a tone of boundless arrogance, “Humph! I can’t be bothered with you, you silly little girl. I’ll ask one more time, Azure Dragon King Xiao Chen, do you dare to fight with me or not?!”
The sudden scene stunned everyone in the banquet somewhat. This Gong Taihua was intent on ruthlessly humiliating Xiao Chen.
Without achieving his purpose, Gong Taihua would not rest.
The Five Poison Sect’s Tang Xun drank his wine with a cold expression. As he looked at Xiao Chen, he revealed an equally cold smile.
That was right. Aside from wanting to trample on Xiao Chen to bolster his reputation, this Gong Taihua behaved so arrogantly because of Tang Xun’s instructions.
The matter three days ago had embarrassed Tang Xun. Now that he was clear on his father’s intentions, he wanted to trample on Xiao Chen ruthlessly to return the favor.
A genuine Greater Heavenly Martial Emperor against the Azure Dragon King. How could he lose?
“There is no need. You may say whatever you want about me. Just do as you wish.”
“You!”
Gong Taihua gritted his teeth in anger. Even when he spoke so badly of Xiao Chen to this point, Xiao Chen still did not take any action. He, who wanted a battle with him, wished he could just charge forward and attack.
No matter how Gong Taihua attempted to provoke Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen ignored him. As Xiao Chen looked at the anger on Gong Taihua’s face, Xiao Chen found it interesting.
The term dancing clown truly referred to such a person.
---
During this time, that blue-clad old man walked on the floating path. With every step, the aura that he suppressed in his body grew stronger.
“Greetings, Elder Ma!”
When the guards lining the two sides saw him, they all bowed in greeting. Clearly, this blue-clad old man held a high position in the Five Poison Sect.
Elder Ma did not return the greeting, only continuing to walk forward. When he reached the end, his Fifth Heaven Greater Heavenly Martial Emperor aura had already become as ferocious as a volcano.
“Open the doors,” Elder Ma said in a low voice. The doormen flanking the doors did not hesitate to obey.
“Hey, Old Ma, why are you here? Come on, quickly add another table and chair.” Tang Feng, who was on the host’s seat, appeared surprised. However, he did not notice anything wrong with the other party as he turned his head and gave out some instructions to the maid by his side.
While Tang Feng was momentarily distracted, the aura that Elder Ma suppressed suddenly burst forth.
There was a loud sound as a shock wave surged out, blowing Tong Susu and the others back.
The blue-clad old man drew his sword and turned into a venomous, black dragon as he thrust his sword forward.
When the blue-clad old man was less than one hundred meters away, his peak strike suddenly erupted. This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard; no one had anticipated this.
Tang Feng gaped in shock. He had not expected this at all, and it was too late for him to try and stop this.
He instantly felt like he saw this sword shatter Xiao Chen into bits. He broke out in a cold sweat in fright. He had never thought of killing Xiao Chen.
The Thunder Sovereign had merely vanished. It was not that he had died. If the Thunder Sovereign came back and wanted revenge, even if Tang Feng had nine lives, Tang Feng would lose them all.
The peak strike of a Fifth Heaven Martial Emperor that had stored up power for a long time was now within one hundred meters of Xiao Chen. He could not dodge it completely.
Everyone thought to themselves in shock, This is a situation where Xiao Chen will surely die!
The blue-robed old man attacked the moment he entered, without any warning or saying anything. His target was Xiao Chen.
The instant the other party attacked, Xiao Chen’s heart sank. An aura of death spread in his heart, his hair stood on end, and his entire body turned cold. This was a presentiment of danger that he had not felt in a very long time.
Xiao Chen did not have time to think at all. If he took any time to think and were delayed in reacting by even just a second, he would die under the peak sword strike of this Fifth Heaven Martial Emperor.
Explode!
With his life hanging on the line, Xiao Chen ferociously slapped the table. The three sunlike spots of resplendent Saber Energy in his sea of consciousness exploded.
In that instant, Xiao Chen became completely resplendent with golden light, even more dazzling than the sun in the sky. The blazing sun was several tens of thousands of kilometers away and could be looked at directly.
Xiao Chen, however, was extremely close. The radiance from his body could not be looked at directly.
“Pu ci!” Aside from Tang Feng, everyone’s eyes bled as a result of the piercing light. It was extremely painful, temporarily blinding them, and nigh unbearable.
Following that, a surging saber light shot up into the sky from Xiao Chen’s body. The saber intent instantly stabbed a hole in the Soft Cloud Pavilion’s roof, which had a formation laid on it.
All the disciples on the poison cloud, the headquarters of the Five Poison Sect, saw the saber light, which was as bright as the blazing sun as it charged through the clouds.
All the light everywhere seemed to dim in contrast with this saber light. The world suddenly fell into darkness.
As for the pavilion, it went without saying that the building plunged into boundless pitch-black darkness.
The saber intent that suddenly erupted from Xiao Chen’s body succeeded in suppressing the aura of the blue-robed old man.
The shock waves that surged out from the two’s bodies collided. The blast swept up the entire Soft Cloud Pavilion and shook it violently.
Although these events took a while to describe, they happened in merely a thousandth of a breath. There was no time for anyone to think.
Xiao Chen might have blocked the blue-robed old man’s aura, but the peak sword strike that the old man executed after storing up power continued onwards.
Xiao Chen’s actions did not pause at all. After he activated the three spots of Saber Energy, just the instant before the other party’s sword would pierce his chest, his body swiftly moved back.